Stairway type scaffold



June 21, 1960 c. F. GROVER ET AL 2,941,616

STAIRWAY TYPE SCAFFOLD Filed Feb. 15, 1957 INVENTORS.

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United States Patent STAIRWAY TYPE SCAFFOLD Charles F. Grover, Greenville, and Richard L. Werner, Sharon, Pa., assignors to R. D. Werner Co. Inc.,

Greenville, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 640,362

17 Claims. (Cl. 182-115) scaffold which may be more easily erected, assembled or expanded and disassembled or collapsed.

Scafiolds employing stairways have before been avail- However, they have all been too complicated in their construction, particularly from the standpoint of facilitating their installation or assembly and collapse.

.We have found that there is a need for an improved type ,of scaffold of this type.

It has thus been an objectof our invention to devise a so-called stairway type of scaffold that will meet safety and strengthrequirements and, at the same time, provide .a better method of erectionand collapse;

Another object of our invention has been to devise a stairway type of scaffold unit that has an improved type of swing assembly and that may be built up by tiers .into a column of suitable height; V V A further object of-our invention has been to devise acollapsible scaffold construction whose parts or sections may be swung, pivoted or folded about and upon a stairway part thereof to erect and collapse, the parts as a unit;

Patented June 21, 1960 'ice 1y right angles to and extends across between the sections A and B when the unit orconstruction is in its erected position. Ladder or stairway frame or section D serves to not only provide steps, a cross-tie and a support for the construction, but to also provide a diagonal or vertically-sloped pivot or swing plane about which the con- These and other objects of our invention will appear to ,those skilled in the art from the disclosure, including the claims.

, In the drawings,Figure 1;is a perspectiveview in elevation illustrating scaffold equipment :of our invention in bydirection arrows a 'how it is collapsed and by direction arrows b how it is erected; the movement in both cases being on or about a stairway or diagonal section; Figure 4 is a side view in elevation on the slightly enlarged scale with respect to Figures 1 to 3, showing a device or unit of our construction laid down in its col- .lapsed orfolded position ready for storing or carrying;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating steps in the procedure of collapsing or folding the construction Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the draw- ;in'gs, we have shown a scaffold unit, device or construction 10 ofxour invention in an erected position.

This unit 10 is made up of what may be termed three movable orgswing sections A, B and C and a diagonal or oblique- -positioned stairway or swing-axis section D. End support frames or sections A and B are in a horizontally-longitufdinally "oppesed and spaced-apart relationship with each ether.- Top platform or door section C is at substantialth eform of a unit or construction that may be quickly erected and collapsed; in this figure, the construction is ,in its erected position; a l

struction is swung, pivoted or folded in erecting and collapsing it.

The end wall sections A and B are of similar construction; thus their portions or elements have been given like reference numerals. In this connection, a pair of upright end posts, column or corner members 11 is provided for each section A and B. Transverse, vertically spaced-apart, and horizontally-extending rails, transverse or cross-connecting members 12 and 12b define a rectangular and substantially-closed frame area with the pair of posts 11. An additional intermediate rail, transverse or cross member 12a is provided to reinforce and strengthen the structure. If desired (as shown in Figure 2), corner brace pieces or members 23 of strap-like construction may be brazed or welded between post members 11 and cross members 12, 12a and 12b,

It will be noted that the members 11, 12, 12a and 12b of the end support sections A and B, as well as the members 12c, 16 and 17 of the platform or roof section C, are secured in position into rigid constructions by means of Ts 13. In this connection, the top or floor section C has a pair of adjacent, centrally-extending, longitudinal members 17 that are secured at their ends to the upper transverse member 12b of end section A and to opposed transverse member of the roof or platform section C.

an inwardly-offset relationship with the post members 11 of the end section A, in a secure relationship with respect thereto, to swingably support the upper end portion of stairway section D and the back end portion of platform section C. End mounting assemblies 14 have collar portions that extend at right angles with respect to each other to rigidly secure the member 12b on the section A. Welding or brazing is used throughout the construction. The swing support member 12b of section A acts as a shaft or supportfor movement of the floor section C, since the ends of section C are secured to upwardly-olfset, journal collars or sleeve trunnions 18 that are rotatably-pivotally mounted on the member 12b.

Forward end portions (left of Figure l) of the floor frame or section C are provided with a pair of releasable clamping ends or detachable connecting means 19 that are adapted to yieldably or resiliently snap over the forward cross member 12b and be releasably retained in such a positionduring the use of the section C as a floor. However, the construction is such that when the unit is to be collapsed, the clamps 19 may be easily unlocked or unlatched by moving them upwardly to release the floor frame C (see arrow b of Figure 3) and permit it to be swung downwardly upon the stairway section D (see arrow a of Figure 3).

Side rails 15 of the ladder section or frame D are, at their lower end portions, provided with collars, sleeves or trunnions 15a that are rotatably or swingably mounted on the lower front transverse member 12. In a like manner, upper end portions of the side rails 15 of the stairwayor ladder section have swing pivot collars, sleeves or trunnions 15b that pivotally mount the section D on the transverse member 12b. Thus, the section or frame D is pivotally positioned between an upper end portion of one end section A and a lower end portion of the other end section B. Removable cross brace members 21 of needed quantity, usually not more than one or two, may be employed (as shown in Figure 1) to "project diagonally between a bottom rail or transverse member 12 of one end section A to a top rail or cross member 12b of the other end section B. The brace members 21 will usually (as shown in Figure '1) be positioned to extend oppositely or at substantially right angles to the stairway section D. Each tie or brace member 21 may, as shown, have end clamps or detachable connectors 19 of the same type or construction and operation as those of the floor section C. Copending Grover and Stoy'er application No. 632,916, filed January 7, 1957, and entitled High Clearance Scaffold, now Patent No. 2,917,129 shows details "of a suitable clamp of this type.

Our construction is collapsed (see arrows a of Figure 3 and the positions of Figure '5) by first raising or lifting the front clamp ends 19 of the floor section C off the front cross member 1211 (of'section B) and lifting off the clamp ends "19 ofdiagonal brace members 21. As shown in Figure {5, the end section B is swung outwardly to clear th'e floorC, in order that the floor section C may be swung downwardly on swing member 12b (of section A) upon the stairway section 1). The end section B may then be swung downwardly upon section D and the end section A may be swung upward-1y upon the same stairway section D. The result is shown 'in Figure 4, wherein the sections lie in a substantially parallel, collapsed relationship with each other. -It 'will be noted that if brace members 21 are used, these are preliminarily lifted ofi before attempting to ollapse the end sections A and B. In Figure 3, the erecting procedure is the reverse of the collaps'ing procedure and is illustrated by arrows b.

It is important in vproviding the above type of swing action, to offset the lower end of the stairway section '13 inwardly of front end section B, to mount the swing support member 12b (at the back end of Figure 1) inwa'rdly of back end section A, and to position the swing inounting of the -floor'sectio'n C in an upwardly-offset or above swing mounting on the rear member 1212.

In Figures 1 and 2, we have illustrated a'plywo'od platform 20 (see the dot and dash lines) secured by suitable means, such as J-bolts '(not shown), to the left half of the floor section C (which is-defined by members 16 -17, 12b and 120-) beyond or to one'sid'e of the overhead 'clearance 'areaneeded forth'e stairway or ladder-section-D.

In employing our invention, we preferably utilize-hollowtmembers'for theside rails -15 of the stairWay se'c-tion D and for the frame members of the end and 'floor sec- -tions A, B and C, to provide lightness as well as strength, and to further provide for ease of handling, as well as pivotingofthe parts in the desired manner. In this connection, any suitable material or metal may be employed, such as non-conductors, reinforced plastics, magnesium, steel, aluminum, and its alloys, although the latter isn'o'w preferred; The trunnion or swivel means 15a, 1 b and 18 of the various members may, as shown, be retained in a suitable lateral or transverse positioning on their respective transverse swing support members 12 and 12b, by fixedrings or sleeves 9, or if desired, by'cross-pins (not shown).

In Figure 1, we have "shown bottom end portidns-ofth'e post members 11 as having pintles or pins 11a, so that the bottom portion of an upper unit '-may be mounted-in a sliding or telescopic engagement within upper collar or open tubular end portions 11b of a lower'unit. In this manner, vertical tiers may be used to build up a suitable height of column. The bottom section will customarily diagonally from the lower transverse member 12 of front end section (or relatively rigid rectangular upright support) B in an inwardly offset relation therewith and upwardly to the inwardly-offset upper transverse member 12b of the back end section (or relatively rigid rectangular upright support) A,

It will be noted, as before mentioned, that the floor section C has floor covering means 20, such as plywood, mounted to cover a side half or area that lies adjacent the longitudinal opening for the stairway section D. We prefer to leave the area immediately above the stairway section open, but a floor and trap door arrangement may be used, if desired. A

The floor section C is s'vvingably mounted at one end portion on the swing support member 12b of end section A that lies immediately adjacent the upper ends of the end section A and the stairway section D. The other end portion of the floor section C detachably engages the swing snppor mernber 12b ('of'end section B) that is remote 'to the lower end of the stairway section D.

What "We "claim is:

1. In a scatfold assembly wherein apair of and support sections are connected at'their tops by a top section,

the "top *of "one end section and the bottom of the other end section are connected by a diagonal support section having a pair of trar' sver'sely spaced-apart diagonally-extending "support members, and the end and the top and the support sections constitute a unit that may be collapsed and erected, an improved collapsible constructioncomprising, a pair of upper cross-members each forming an upper portion of one of the pair of *end sections and defining a pair of upper positioning axes, members of the top section pivotally mounted at one end about one axis of said dipper positioning axes whereby the top section may be folded downwardly to lie along the dia'gonal support section, upwardly-extending members of 'onefend 'section being pivo'tally mounted at their upper ends about said one axis-of said-pair of positioning axes"whereby said end section may be folded about said axis to lie along the diagonal support'section, a third cross-member forminga lower portion of the otherbnd section and defining a lower positioning axis, rneans pit orally 'rnounting the support members of the diagonal support section-at their lower ends on said lower positioning axis whereby said other en'dseotion having the third cross-member may be folded downwardly to lie along the diagonal support seetion, means connecting the support members of 'the diagon'al *suppen-s'eotien at their "upper ends to the crossrn'embero'f' said pair th'at 'de'fine's the one axis of saidpair of' up'p'er positioning aides *to which said member's of the one-end section are 'piv'otally mounted; one "cross member of said upper pair forming a support for the "other end 'of "said members of the top section, and 'm'e'ans detachably connecting saidother end of the top section to 'said on'e' 'cros's-member so that the-s'catfold m'ay be erected and collapsed.

2. In a-scafiiold assembly as defined in claim '1, said r'riean's connecting the support members of the diagonal support section-at their'u per ends-comprises pivot means whereby the one end seotion inay 'be folded upwardly to lie alongthe'diagonal supportsection.

3. In "a 'scaifold assenibly defined in claim 1, nieans associated With said means pivetally mounting the 51 11)- IJ 0i t;' fi1efilbFS b f 4111B diagonal 8666011 at their lower :ends on said lower positioning to position'a lower portion of said diagonal support section in an inwardly o'ffset relation with "the otlrer end section having --the third cross member whereby the ather e'nd section may be -folded downwardly to lie substantially 'par'allel portions in an inwardly-offset relation with the other end section having the third cross member whereby theother end section may be folded downwardly to lie substantially parallel along the diagonal support section, and means positioning the one end of the floor section and the upper ends of the one end section in an offset relation with the one axis of said upper positioning axes about which they are pivotally mounted, whereby the floor section may be folded downwardly and said one end section may be folded upwardly to lie substantially parallel along I the diagonal support section.

5. In a scaffold assembly wherein a pair of end support sections are connected at theirtops by a floor section,

the top of one end section andth'e bottom of the other end section are connectedby a diagonally-extending ladder and the end and floor sections and the ladder constitute a unit that maybecollapsed'and'erected, and improved collapsible construction comprising, a pair of upper cross-members each forming an upper portion of one of the pair of end sections defining a pair of upper positioning axes, members of the floor section pivotally mounted at one end about one axis of said pair of upper positioning axes whereby the floor section may be folded downwardly to lie along the ladder, upwardly-extending members of one end section of the pair of end sections being pivotally mounted at their upper ends about one axis of said pair of upper positioning axes whereby said end section may be folded about said axis to lie along the ladder, a third cross-member forming a lower portion of one end section of the pair of end sections and defining a lower positioning axis, said ladder being pivotally mounted on said lower positioning axis whereby the end section having the third cross-member may be folded downwardly to lie along the ladder, said ladder being connected at its upper end to the one cross-member of said pair that defines the one axis of said pair of upper positioning axes to which said members of one end section are pivotally mounted; one cross-member of said upper pair forming a support for the other end of said members of the floor section, and means for detachably connecting the other end of the floor section to said one cross-member so that the scaffold may be erected and collapsed.

6. In a scaffold assembly as defined in claim 5, means connecting the upper ends of the upwardly-extending members of the one end section in an outwardly-ofiset relation with respect to the one axis of said pair of upper positioning axes about which they are pivotally mounted,

' whereby said end section may be folded to lie substantially parallel along the ladder.

7. In a scafiold assembly as defined in claim 5, means associated with the lower end portion of the ladder section and with the third cross-member pivotally connecting said lower end portion in an inwardly-offset relation with vertical members of the one end section having the third cross member.

8. In a scaffold assembly as defined in claim 5, means positioning said upper pair of cross-members above and below a common horizontal plane, and means for positioning the floor section on a substantially parallel horizontal and vertically-spaced plane with respect to said common horizontal plane.

9. In a scaffold assembly as defined in claim 5, means connecting the members of the floor section in an upwardly-oifset relation with respect to the one axis of said pair of upper positioning axes about which they are mounted, .whereby said floor section may be folded to lie substantially parallel along the ladder.

10. In a scafiold assembly as defined in claim 9, means mounting the one cross-member of said upper pair to which the other end of the floor section is detachably connected, in an upwardly-ofiset relation with respect to the one axis of said pair of upper positioning axes with respect to which the members of the floor section are connccted in an upwardly-offset relation, whereby the floor section may lie on a substantially level horizontal plane when its other end is detachably connected by said detachable connecting means to said one cross member.

11. In a scaffold assembly wherein a pair of end support sections are connected at their tops by a floor section, the top of one end section and the bottom of the other end section are connected by adiagonally-extending ladder, and the end and floor sections and the ladder constitute a unit that may be so collapsed and erected, an improved collapsible construction comprising, a first crossbar forming an upper portion of one end section and defining a pivotal axis, members of the floor section pivotally mounted at one end in an upwardly-offset relation about said axis whereby they may be folded downwardly to lie parallel to the ladder, upwardly-extending members of a first of the end sections pivotally mounted at their upper ends in an outwardly-offset relation about said axis whereby they may be folded upwardly to lie parallel to the ladder, a second cross-bar forming a lower portion of the other of the end sections and defining a second pivotal axis, said ladder being connected at one end to said first cross-bar and being pivotally mounted on said second axis in such a manner that said other end section may be folded downwardly to lie parallel to the ladder, a third cross-bar forming an upper portion of said other end section and defining a support for the other end of the floor section, and means for detachably securing said other end of the floor section to said third cross-bar so that the scaffold may be erected and collapsed.

12. In the scaffold assembly defined in claim 11, an inwardly-ofiset portion adjacent the end of the ladder which is pivotally mounted on said second pivotal axis and which enables said other end section to be folded downwardly to lie parallel to the ladder.

13. In the scaffold assembly defined in claim 11, said first and third cross-bars being positioned on horizontal planes that lie below the floor section, and open-bottom grip portions on said detachably securing means projecting downwardly from said other end of the floor section to detachably engage downwardly on said third crossbar whereby said other end of the floor section is moved upwardly to detach it from SZlJld third cross-bar.

14. In the scaffold assembly defined in claim 13, trunnion means secured to the members of the floor section at the one end thereof to position them in an upwardly-offset relationship about the pivotal axis defined by said first cross-bar, said pivotal axis being positioned on a horizontal plane that lies below the horizontal plane of said third cross-bar, and said members of the floor section being supported by said grip portions and said trunnion means on a horizontal plane when the assembly is erected.

15. In a scaffold assembly wherein a pair of substantially rectangular end support sections are connected at their tops by a floor section, the top of one end section and the bottom of the other end section are connected by a diagonally-extending ladder, and the end and floor sections and the ladder are connected as a unit to swing the end and floor sect-ions from an erected position to a collapsed position along the ladder, an improved collapsible construction comprising, a pair of upper cross-bars each forming an upper portion of one of the pair of end sections and defining a pair of upper positioning axes, longitudinal members of the floor section pivotally mounted at one end in an upwardly-ofiset relation on one axis of said pair of upper positioning axes whereby they may be folded downwardly to lie substantially parallel to the ladder, upwardly-extending members of one end section of the pair of end sections being pivotally mounted at their upper ends in an outwardly-offset relation about one axis of said pair of upper positioning axes whereby they may be folded about said axis to lie substantially parallel to the ladder, a third cross-bar forming a lower portion of one end section of the pair of end sections and defining a lower positioning axis, the ladder being pivotally connected at its upper end with respect to the pivotally mounted end of the floor section at the upper positioning axis to which said longitudinal members of the floor section arepivotally mounted and being pivotal'ly mounted at its lower end and in an inwardly-offset relation with respect to said lower positioning axis whereby the end section whose upper cross-bar defines the upper positioning axis with respect to which the ladder is pivotally connected may be folded to lie substantially parallel to the ladder, one cross-bar of said upper vpair forming a support for the other end of the floor section, and down-clamping means for detachably securing the other end of the floor section to said one cross-bar so that the scaffold may be erected and collapsed.

16. In the scaffold assembly defined in claim 15, trunmions carried by said longitudinal members at said one end of the floor section, and said itrunnions and said down- References Cited in the file of this patent U NITED STATES PATENTS 1,271,808 Tobias -1. July 9, 1918 2,438,173 Johnson Mar. 23, 1948 2,593,386 Dirks Apr. 5, 1952 2,665,950 Johnson Jan. 12, 1954 2,720,430 Meng et a1. Oct. 11, 1955 2,760,707 Anderson "Aug. 28,1956

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,941,616 June 21 1960 Charles Fa Grover et al0 It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 17 line 17,, before -"end" insert opposite --;i column 5 line l7,v for "and" second occurrence read an ---5 line 20, before "defining" insert and Signed and sealed this 26th day of July 1960.,

S EAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT 'C. WATSON Attesting ()Hicer Commissioner of Patents 

